Chapter 25

Disclaimer: The Harry Potter world obviously belongs to JK Rowling and not me. Obviously.

… … … …

Leila lay sound asleep in her bed after that long night with Draco. Her dreams seemed so vivid and so real. In her dreams, she stood in Snape's empty office. She was in front of the Sword of Gryffindor…

"Ah, I see you're once again admiring the Sword of Gryffindor," a voice spoke.

She knew the voice didn't belong to a portrait. This voice she usually heard once a year, give or take a few. But how could she forget the conversation that went on inside her head: the Sorting Hat.

"I forgot you were even in here," Leila muttered.

"That happens when one is a talking hat," the Sorting Hat mused.

"Have you seen Snape?" Leila asked.

"He left a little while ago," the Sorting Hat answered.

"Good," Leila muttered.

"Stealing the Sword of Gryffindor, how brave of you," the Sorting Hat said.

"I'm not even sure I can go through with it. I'm not a Gryffindor, I'm a Slytherin," Leila scoffed.

"But that doesn't mean you don't possess the qualities of the other Houses," the Sorting Hat answered.

"I didn't come here for a lecture," Leila hissed.

"No, I suppose you didn't; but know that bravery, loyalty, nerve, chivalry, courage, and daring characteristics do dwell within you," the Sorting Hat said.

"Like I said, I'm not a Gryffindor," Leila sighed.

"Appearances are deceiving girl," the Sorting Hat chuckled.

"I'm not any of those things!" Leila shouted.

"Then how were you able to summon the Sword of Gryffindor all those years ago?" the Sorting Hat asked.

"I wasn't! It was Harry! Harry battled the basilisk with the Sword of Gryffindor. It's always been Harry!" Leila practically screamed.

"Think again Potter," the Sorting Hat mused.

"It was Harry that saved us that day," Leila sighed.

"But it was you who summoned the Sword of Gryffindor," the Sorting Hat answered.

"That's impossible. The Sword of Gryffindor can only be summoned by a true Gryffindor," Leila scoffed.

"What makes one a true Gryffindor or Slytherin? If you possess the qualities that Founder found important. You have always possessed qualities of multiple Houses as do most students," the Sorting Hat replied.

"But you placed me in Slytherin!" Leila shouted.

"My dear girl, I placed you in the House for the very same reasons as your brother. You both told me which House you didn't want to be placed in! You didn't want to be placed in Gryffindor only because that's where I placed Hermione Granger!" the Sorting Hat answered.

"The Sword still belongs to my brother," Leila said determinedly.

"That well may be, but you need to remember the truth about that night," the Sorting Hat said.

"Why?" Leila asked.

"Because you need to know that you were always destined to play the role that you're going to play. You've always been a brave, daring, and courageous girl even if you take well to hiding in the shadows of others," the Sorting Hat answered.

"Why are you telling me this?" Leila asked.

"Because someone has to," the Sorting Hat said.

…. … … …

She awoke breathing heavily. She must be crazy to make up a dream of a conversation with the Sorting Hat. Her mother she understood, Draco, she understood, but the Sorting Hat made no sense to her. He had mentioned that night in the Chamber of Secrets and how she had been the one to summon the sword. That sword must be off his rocker or something! But she thought back to the moment he had been referring to.

~*Flashback to 2nd year inside the Chamber of Secrets*~

Leila clung tightly to her brother's arm as they looked at Ginny Weasley lying there practically lifeless on the floor. She closed her eyes shut as Fawkes attacked the basilisk, blinding it and a young Tom Riddle screaming at the top of his lungs. They were going to die, she was sure of it.

"Help us, help us please," Leila sniffled.

"Run!" Harry whispered to Leila.

The basilisk's tail swung at them. Harry began to run one way, while Leila ran the other. She had spotted the Sorting Hat on the ground that Fawkes had dropped. The bloody bird wouldn't bring it down here without a purpose, or so she thought. So as Harry attempted to outrun the basilisk, it's tail knocked him to the ground. Leila ran for the Hat which lay on the stone ground. Tears streamed down her face as she looked to her brother. How were they ever going to get out of here? Leila picked up the Sorting Hat and took off in a sprint toward her brother.

"Help us! Please someone! Anyone!" Leila thought.

Leila suddenly felt the Sorting Hat get heavier as she reached her brother. She could swear she saw something glinting in the Hat out of the corner of her eyes as she reached down her hand to help her brother up. Quickly, Leila shoved the Sorting Hat at Harry as Tom Riddle began shouting out instructions for the basilisk to kill them. Harry felt the weight of the hat and thrust his hand inside. He pulled out a beautiful silver sword with rubies encrusted in the handle just as the basilisk was ready to attack once more.

~*End Flashback*~

Either way, one thing she got out of her dream with the Sorting Hat. She needed to get Neville, Ginny, and Luna on board for the plan because she was finally fully on board. She was brave, even if it took her this long to figure it out. The next morning, Leila stood in the common room with Daphne waiting for Draco so that they could head to the Great Hall for breakfast. After last night, he had walked back to the common room by himself leaving her standing alone in the Astronomy Tower. She couldn't fathom what could possibly cause such a change in him. The only thing she reasoned was that Harry had been captured; but in her heart, she knew that she would know if he was dead. She knew that she shared a special connection with her twin and why she had ignored it just prior to her suicide attempt, she didn't know; but she knew in her heart that Harry was still alive. So, what was bothering Draco she didn't know. Theo walked into the common room as he finished tying his tie. He must have known that they were waiting for Draco, because his eyes locked with Leila's.

"He left just as I was waking up," Theo said.

"Of course he did," Leila muttered.

"I don't know what happened between you two last night, but whatever it was I can tell it was bothering him. What did you say to him now?" Theo continued.

"I forgave him," Leila scoffed.

"I don't see the problem then. It's what he's wanted for quite some time now," Daphne added.

"That's what makes this so confusing. All I know is that after he got that letter…" Leila began.

"He was up most of the night reading it," Theo said.

"I just wish I knew what was in that letter!" Leila groaned.

"I'll meet you both in the Great Hall," Theo sighed.

Theo looked at Leila and sighed before turning around. He walked back to the boys' dormitory without an explanation to Leila or Daphne. Both girls looked at each other in confusion, to which Daphne responded with a shrug. She then headed for the door.

"What is he doing?" Leila asked.

"Dunno, but I'm starving," Daphne responded.

Leila looked once more back to where Theo had gone. If Daphne wasn't too concerned with her boyfriend's behavior then she shouldn't be worried either. Her feet quickly followed after Daphne as they left the Slytherin common room. They walked to the Great Hall, which was filled with students eating breakfast; only Draco was nowhere to be seen. Leila's stomach slightly churned. What could be so bad that he would be avoiding her? After her attempt to drown herself, Draco had practically been her constant companion even more-so than before and if he wasn't exactly with her, he wasn't too far away from her. Daphne and Leila sat down at the Slytherin table away from the other seventh years. Pansy Parkinson was dramatizing some story or another and neither girl wanted to put up with her antics at the moment. She had just bitten into her toast when Theo sat beside Daphne, who sat across from Leila. Theo looked at Leila apprehensively before he reached into his robe pocket for something. He pulled out a folded up piece of parchment, but he kept it tightly clenched in his hand.

"I saw Malfoy put this in his trunk this morning," Theo said.

"Did you read it?" Leila asked.

"No. I figured I'm meddling enough with the two of you," Theo answered.

"So what are you going to do with it?" Leila questioned.

"I'm going to give it to you; but you need to think if you really want to read it," Theo responded.

"Why wouldn't I want to read it?" Leila scoffed.

Theo looked at Daphne who bit her bottom lip. Daphne reached out her hand and grabbed Leila's hand.

"If Draco hasn't told you yet, there's probably a good reason," Daphne said.

"So you're not going to give me the letter then?" Leila asked.

"No, I'm going to give it to you; but like Daphne said he probably has a good reason why he hasn't told you yet," Theo responded.

"You two are bloody confusing," Leila muttered.

"All we're asking is that you give it some thought before jumping into reading this. Draco said that it was going to change things and I think it would be best coming from him instead of snooping through his things," Daphne replied.

"But if I don't know what's in that letter, how can I help him?" Leila asked.

"Leila if you want to help him, that means that you care. So maybe you should care enough to trust him on this," Daphne sighed.

"But it's still your decision," Theo said gruffly.

Theo's hand slowly reached across the table with the note in it. He carefully placed the note in Leila's outstretched hand and her fingers clenched around the parchment. Leila played with the note between her fingers before. They did have a point, but she wanted to know so badly what was causing him to ignore her. But the more she thought of it, the more she realized that her decision didn't need to be made right at that moment. So, Leila carefully placed the note in her robe pocket and continued to eat. Theo and Daphne both nodded before they continued with their food. When breakfast was over Leila walked by herself to History of Magic. She was surprised that she wasn't required to have an escort. Normally, someone was always there to see her to her classes, but she couldn't bring herself to enjoy this newfound freedom. Inside the classroom, Draco was already seated. Leila walked down the aisle and sat down beside him. He looked at her and offered her a weak smile, but she could tell that if was a forced one. Something was really eating him up and whatever it was sat in her pocket. She carefully patted her pocket to make sure the note was still safely concealed inside before she turned to speak to Draco.

"Where were you this morning?" Leila asked.

"I had some things I needed to take care of," Draco answered.

"Such as?" Leila asked.

"Please, it's not important right now," Draco sighed.

Leila looked at him as he rubbed his face with his hands. From his eyes, Leila could tell that Theo's statement was true: Draco hadn't slept much. She reached over and gave his arm a reassuring squeeze, to which he responded by nodding before Professor Binns began his boring-as-usual lecture. Neither took notes on Binns lecture nor did they talk to each other. They simply sat there for a double period of History of Magic silent, both thinking the things that they wanted to say to the other. When class finished, they both walked silently together down the corridors to the greenhouses for Herbology. They both were the last ones into the green house, so they were split up. Leila was forced to sit up front by Neville, while Draco sat two rows behind her beside Ernie Macmillan. Neville smiled at her as she took her materials out of her bad. He then looked at her and made a motion like he was pretending to write in the air. "What?" Leila mouthed. "Parchment" Neville mouthed back. Leila's eyes slightly widened as she shuffled through her papers and pulled out the piece of parchment Neville had given her. He nodded and turned to his parchment. Leila kept her eyes peeled on her own, waiting for his message.

Now is probably just as good as time as any,Neville wrote.

Leila read the words quickly before they disappeared. Looking over her shoulder, she found Draco staring down at his papers. So, she picked up her quill and put it on the special parchment.

I suppose so, Leila wrote back.

So what's this idea that you have?

Do you know about the Sword of Gryffindor?

Of course. Harry managed to wield it when you both were in the Chamber of Secrets.

How it was summoned doesn't really matter. Dumbledore willed it to Harry.

But I've seen it in Snape's office.

Exactly. I've been trying to come up with a way to steal it.

That's brilliant. Snape has no business with it.

My thoughts as well but I know I can't get at it by myself.

Ginny, Luna, and myself could be of service.

I was hoping on that.

But the question becomes how.

I sort of have an idea about that too…

What is it?

As you're well aware, I'm Head Girl. I don't do much around here, but I do have the password to Snape's office.

Continue.

I was thinking that I'd distract Snape somehow while you all, well I think you can read between the lines.

Bloody brilliant! Snape won't even see it coming…

And he will no longer be in possession of what is rightfully Harry's.

It's nice to have you back, Leila.

It's nice to be back.

Malfoy's watching you.

Leila blinked quickly as she felt a blush creep onto her cheeks. She looked over her shoulder again to find that Draco was looking at her, but when they made eye contact Draco quickly looked away. Rolling her eyes, Leila turned around and looked once more at the parchment just in time to catch a message before it disappeared.

When should we commence with the plan?

Friday night.

Should work, I'll check with the girls.

Please try to not get a detention then.

I'll be on my best behavior with Carrow, if that's what you're hinting at.

I just wish there was more that I could do…

We know that you're on our side. You're doing enough. You came up with the plan and you're going to distract Snape. That's bravery right there.

I'm not brave.

You keep telling yourself that; but I know better.

But…

Class is over. I'll let you know what the girls think.

With no more than that, Neville quickly packed up his belongings and walked out of the room with Seamus Finnigan. Leila looked down at her blank piece of parchment. It looked as if the whole exchange with Neville had never happened and she couldn't help but somewhat wonder if she had made it all up in her head. But the more she recalled the conversation, the more real it seemed. They were going to do this. They were going to steal the Sword of Gryffindor. Now, only for her to find a distraction for Snape. She still had a few days to figure it out. Leila stuck her hand in her pocket and remembered the piece of parchment she had put in there earlier from Theo. The note that Draco had received. The note that could potentially change her life, which was also the same note that she had not been able to bring herself to read.

Leila looked up and found Draco standing by the door with his arms folded across his chest watching her. She flushed and awkwardly patted her pocket before walking over to him. He was waiting for her so that they could walk to the Great Hall for lunch. They didn't talk the entire journey through the corridors, but it was a start. He was willingly waiting for her. Together, they ate in the Great Hall with several others of their classmates before they headed for Charms. Leila walked down the corridor beside Draco and Daphne. Daphne gave her a knowing look as Draco walked a little faster to catch up to Zabini.

"I haven't looked at it," Leila hissed.

"So you're not going to then?" Daphne asked.

"I didn't say that," Leila retorted.

"Please, for both your sakes just let him tell you," Daphne sighed.

"I just realized I only asked Theo, do you know what's in this letter?" Leila asked.

"Of course not. I just know Draco and that his intentions with you are always good. It's just his execution where he lacks," Daphne said.

"I don't know how much longer I can wait for him to tell me," Leila sighed.

Friday finally rolled around and Leila still hadn't opened the note. She had gotten word that Neville, Ginny, and Luna were all on board for the plan one night when she was tutoring Neville. Tonight, after dinner, she was supposed to find some way to lure Snape out of his office so that the Sword of Gryffindor could be stolen. The only problem was that Leila still hadn't figured out what she was going to do to get Snape out of his office. The man practically lived there and hardly ever came out, even during meal times. Thankfully, she still had all day to plan this part. She needed something good to get him out of there and it needed to be done without magic, seeing as she still didn't have her wand.

As Leila prepared for her day, like she had the past few days, she placed the letter Draco had received in her pocket. If he had noticed that he didn't have his note anymore, he hadn't confronted her about it. But she still couldn't make up her mind on whether she wanted to read the note or not. Well, she really did want to read the note, but her conversations with Daphne kept coming back to her head. She had forgiven him for all his past mistakes and reading that note would somehow be a step backward; but if it affected her life, she deserved to know what was in the letter. Groaning, she walked over to the mirror to examine herself. She had pulled her hair up in a pony-tail, but the loose curls still cascaded down her back and her side-fringe was pinned back. This was about as good as she was going to look for a mission later today.

Her stomach twisted in knots as she walked down to the Great Hall. These past few days, she had gained surprisingly more freedom than she ever expected to. Draco was usually gone in the mornings and at times, he was late for their classes. Leila hadn't had the nerve to ask him where he went; instead she just pretended that she didn't even know he wasn't there. When she reached the Great Hall, her eyes instantly went to the Gryffindor table. She found that Neville and Ginny were both watching her intently. Leila took a deep breath and nodded in their direction. She was thankful that their friendships were repairing and going through with this plan seemed like a form of redemption. She knew that she really didn't need to redeem herself, but she wanted them to be for certain that she hadn't betrayed her brother even if she was in constant companionship with the enemy.

Leila sat down at the Slytherin table with Tracey Davis, Hesita Carrow, Flora Carrow, and regrettably: Pansy Parkinson and Millicent Bulstrode. Daphne was currently occupied with Theo, whose tongue was probably currently down her friend's throat. Tracey smiled at her and offered her the plate of sausages. It was funny; Tracey and sometimes even Millicent were much more tolerable this year than they had been the rest of her Hogwarts career. She was convinced it had something to do with fear of Voldemort, but reducing the animosity from most of her dorm mates to only Pansy was a great relief.

"Where's your precious fiancé, Potter?" Pansy sneered.

"Unlike when he was dating you, I don't keep constant tabs on him. But then again, if you were any good at that, you would have realized he was seeing me last year," Leila retorted.

"He didn't move on to you until after we broke up," Pansy scoffed.

"I'm the reason he broke up with you, Parkinson," Leila chuckled.

"You're lying," Pansy hissed.

"Think about it honestly and then talk to me," Leila responded.

Pansy slammed her fist against the table causing a bowl of eggs to topple over. The girls looked at her with wild expressions on their faces, well, all but Leila. She simply smirked. She may not be in a good place with Draco, but she just couldn't help torturing Parkinson. Just then, Daphne walked over attempting to hide a mark on her neck.

"What the hell just happened?" Daphne asked.

"Potter was just leaving," Pansy hissed.

"I thought we agreed that was you," Leila retorted.

"I'm warning you Potter, you may be under the Dark Lord's protection right now, but there will come a time when you will meet your sticky end," Pansy hissed.

"Thanks for the warning," Leila said sarcastically.

Pansy muttered something under her breath before she roughly grabbed her book bag and walked out of the Great Hall. Leila was surprised that she didn't receive a lecture from Daphne on how she treated Pansy. Instead, Daphne dug into her food still attempting to her hood to hide the mark on her neck which was obviously left there by Theo. Leila rubbed her neck self-consciously, remembering the marks that Theo had left on her neck fifth year. Granted, she purposely let him leave them so that Draco would take a hint and leave her alone, but that didn't work. That only made Draco work harder at attempting to break her and Theo up; which ultimately, Leila was grateful for. She never felt anything for Theo and she was happy that he had finally found happiness with Daphne.

In Dark Arts, Leila found that Draco still wasn't there. Where was he? Was he in the Room of Requirement again? The thought made her shiver, but she knew that she had forgiven him for that. It wasn't right to hold it against him anymore. Leila continued through her classes, which Draco didn't attend: Transfiguration, Ancient Runes, Muggle Studies, Potions, and even Arithmancy. This was the first time where it had been almost a whole day where she had gone without seeing Draco. As much as she hated to admit it, he had become a constant in her life; even if they weren't particularly on speaking terms. She hoped that he wasn't hurt or sick. And if she actually thought about it, she was worried about Draco. Even though it wasn't in the romantic sense, she had grown very attached to Draco these past months together. He was one of the reasons she had stayed relatively sane, despite her suicide attempt. Her thoughts drifted to Draco during the day instead of focusing on her job of distracting Snape later.

During dinner, she gave up on seeing Draco that day so she left early. She left so that she could head to Snape's office to have a few moments to plan what she was going to do to get him out of his office. So far, the best thing she could come up with was that one of the Carrows needed him immediately. Only, she was pretty sure that Snape would have a better idea of the Carrows whereabouts than she would. Of maybe Madam Pomfrey needed him for something, only she only called on the headmaster when necessary. Finding a reason for Snape to leave was proving more difficult than she imagined. She kicked the floor in frustration and at that moment Draco came walking toward her. She gulped hard. What if he distracted her from distracting Snape? She somewhat hoped that he would ignore her and walk right past her, but his eyes were focused on her. He stopped right in front of her and his expression turned serious.

"We need to talk," Draco said sternly.

"Can't it wait until later?" Leila asked.

"No, I need to do this now," Draco responded.

"Very well then," Leila sighed.

Draco reached for Leila's arm as he led her down the corridors. He was obviously looking for a corridor where they wouldn't be interrupted. When they finally came to a stop Draco released his hand from her arm and pinched the bridge of his nose. Leila leaned up against the stone wall and looked at him.

"You probably have been wondering where I've been going," Draco stated.

"Hadn't even noticed you left," Leila shrugged.

"Please don't lie to me," Draco responded.

"Fine, I've been a little curious," Leila sighed.

"Well as you know, I received a note the other night…" Draco began.

"This note?" Leila asked.

Leila pulled the note out of her pocket and held it out in front of her still folded. Draco looked at her with bewildered eyes as she handed it to him. He hesitantly accepted the note.

"I wondered where that went," Draco whispered.

"I didn't look at it," Leila said.

"So you don't know what it's about?" Draco asked.

"Haven't a clue, other than you seemed pretty worried by its content," Leila answered.

"Why didn't you read it?" Draco questioned.

"I wanted to believe me, but that wouldn't exactly show that I trusted you and forgave you now would it?" Leila quipped.

"If I was you I would have read it," Draco replied.

"Well, I didn't read it and I would really like to know what it's about before I snatch it out of your hands and read it for myself," Leila said.

"I'll let you read it if you like," Draco responded.

"No, I'll let you tell me," Leila answered.

Draco looked at her as if he was surprised by her response, but he quickly looked away. He attempted to gather the right words to say to her. This wasn't going to be easy.

"First, I want you to know that I don't like doing things that will hurt you," Draco said.

"I know this," Leila stated.

"And you know that I will do anything to make you happy," Draco continued.

"Good to know," Leila said.

"I also need you to know that you mean the world to me," Draco added.

"Draco, just spit it out already," Leila sighed.

The clock began to toll, letting her know that dinner was over. She needed to move fast so that Ginny, Neville, and Luna wouldn't get caught by Snape.

"Draco, I—"Leila began.

"Leila, I've been going back to Malfoy Manor in the mornings. The date for our impending marriage has been set. We're to be married over Christmas holiday. I'm so sorry; I know you deserve better," Draco said hanging his head.

Part of her had forgotten about her upcoming wedding or she hoped that Voldemort had forgotten about it. The clock continued to toll.

"I need to go," Leila responded.

Leila took off for Snape's office. Running away probably wasn't the best thing for her to do. She should probably talk this over with Draco, but she was being depended upon. Her thoughts seemed to jumble as she raced down the corridors. Marriage? She wasn't ready to be married and neither was Draco. Marriages were serious life-long commitments, something she wasn't sure she would ever be ready for. But her heart ached for Draco. He probably thought that she was upset with him, when she wasn't. She wasn't fond of the idea of being married, but her anger wasn't focused at Draco. No, her anger was focused on Lord Voldemort, which made this plan she was about to go through seem even more important. But Christmas was hardly more than a month away! She only had another month of single life ahead of her. She stopped suddenly in the corridor as the thought struck her oddly. Only one more month….but she quickly forced that thought out of her head. She needed to get to Snape's office. Ginny, Luna, and Neville were depending on her.